This couch was the altar where I called on the name of Jesus.

Can children understand such things as redemption, forgiveness of sins, propitiation, and atonement? Well, I remember vividly my meeting with Jesus as a five year old boy. I still can’t spell any of those words without the help of my word processor but I know that I am saved. In my limited understanding, I knew that I had sinned against almighty God and I would be punished for my sin forever and ever and ever in a fiery place called Hell. Kneeling beside me that day was my father, Gary Byers; who was leading his third child to Jesus.

Dad with my and my sister's kids

All five of dad’s children profess Jesus as their Savior and to my knowledge; all his grandchildren above the age of seven have called on that wonderful name. I think this number comes to eleven grand children who profess to be saved by faith alone in Jesus. Add this to his five children and you have a total of sixteen family members who trust they are ready for the rapture of the Church soon to take place. Only God knows the hearts and I realize that profession of Jesus does not necessarily prove possession, but we have been blessed with a goodly heritage nonetheless.

By now I hope you are wondering how my dad came to know the Lord. He was not raised in a godly home. On the contrary, my dad’s parents divorced when he was young. Yes, divorce is still sin even in 2010 and will continue to be sin forever. My grandparents on dad’s side smoked, drank, and frequented the nightclubs. Dad says their main goal in life seemed to be “having a ball”, and so they did. God was only a curse word in that home. I remember visiting my grandparent’s home and hearing the Lords name used in ways I had never heard before. Church wasn’t on the schedule in dads broken home.

When my grandpa Byers was on his death bed with cancer, my dad was broken over his soul. He wanted one last chance to speak to grandpa about the Lord, but the stepmother wasn’t going to make it easy. For several days grandpa was in and out of a coma at his house in Oregon. The family took turns watching him and dad was taking his turn when grandpa Byers sat up in bed one night. Earlier dad tried to speak with him but to no avail. This night, grandpa Byers looked right at my dad and said “Gary, could God save an old sinner like me?” Well GLORY TO GOD and PRAISE THE LORD! Chalk up four generations of Byers’ for the family reunion in Heaven. No, the circle won’t be broken.

So then, it wasn’t grandpa Melville Byers who planted the seed, watered it, and then picked the fruit. This line of born again, blood washed, heaven bound Baptist believers that currently stretches four generations started when a young boy named Buddy Brock invited my dad to church. At the age of fourteen, my dad attended a Baptist Church in Camas Washington and heard Pastor Lee Brock preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The spirit filled preacher offered an invitation for sinners to come to Christ and the preacher’s four year old son spoke to my dad while standing on the pew next to him. “Gary, don’t you want to get saved?” were the simple words uttered by the boy. My dad said that’s all the nudge he needed to walk the isle of that little Baptist church and get saved.

Although we have never met, my dad has repeated this story so many times that I feel I know Pastor Brock. The Lord called me to be a preacher not long after finishing High School. Currently I am planting a Baptist church in Illeshiem Germany. About three years ago while traveling across the United States seeking support to begin our ministry here in Germany; I received an e-mail from Pastor Lee Brock. He wanted to know if I may be related to a Gary Byers. Apparently, Pastor Brock found my website on the internet. I was thrilled to answer the e-mail and thank this man of God for impact he has made in my life. If Bro. Brock only had one convert during his time in Camas Washington, I would praise God through all eternity for this preacher answering God’s call. I am so glad Bro. Brock had never heard of this nonsense about “the 10/40 window.” (my preacher friends will understand what I mean by that) Can I tell you that we are not done yet? By God’s grace, we plan to win many more souls to Jesus. In our first year here we led four people to Christ

Poems of a Cowboy Preacher

and baptized one.  I am certain that Bro. Brock will be rewarded by God for each and every soul that was saved as a result of his obedience to God. I could hardly believe it when the Brocks began

supporting our ministry financially each month. We have still never met and perhaps never will until Heaven.

A few weeks ago I received an E-mail from Pastor Brock. He has written a book called “The Poems of a Cowboy Preacher.” The book can be purchased on Amazon at this link, and I can’t wait to read it. May I recommend this book to you before I have even read it? This was written by a man who made a difference for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Kevin Byers

http://www.amazon.com/POEMS-COWBOY-PREACHER-Lee-Brock/dp/1615796681/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269632085&sr=8-1

Bayerische Semmelklösse

A few weeks ago, I went to help the sheep community install a new roof for their hay barn. Lunch was served at the Linsenbreit home and Oma Babette made a wonderful lunch.

Something about the German food is just plain wonderful, but something about Frankish food (Bavaria) is even better. I just had to ask the name of this wonderful dish and Andrea said it was Bayerische Semmelklösse. I tried several times to say that, and each time I was corrected. I even spit and nearly swallowed my tongue while attempting to say it, but still to no avail.

No matter what you call it, I knew I had to eat more of it. I took the liberty of setting up a cooking lesson for my wife. After exhausting my German vocabulary and playing a short game of charades, Babette agreed to teach the art of Bayerische Semmelklösse cooking to my lovely bride. Stacy was a little skeptical at first, but in true Bayerishe fashion, the Linsenbreits sent Stacy home with a large portion of the dish they had made together. They were only supposed to teach Stacy and eat the soup themselves; but our neighbors are just the kind to give you the shirt off their backs.

Stacy really outdid herself with this fine dish!

Well, Stacy gave the dish a go and I must say; she did quite well. One of the downsides was the extra butter she used in the bread crumb mixture. By the second time she made the meal, it was absolutely perfect. Now, Stacy really wants me to say how hers was better than Babbette’s, but I don’t dare insult our generous neighbors with such needless comparison. I am one happy man to be married to Stacy Byers. She is even a better kisser than she is a cook!

We sure do have a lot of snow around here. I don’t even know how much we have, but there are piles of it everywhere. We have been doing our civic duty of shoveling the sidewalk in front of our house and the patio in front of our door. Thankfully, Dieter Lindsenbreit has a large tractor so he can pick up the large piles that accumulate in front of our house. Dieter made a little igloo for the kids with his tractor as a result of scooping up all the piles of snow around the farm.

We were able to take two trips to the large hill just half a mile from our house. There is plenty of snow on the hill but it takes some work getting to the top. The kids finally got the hang of staying on the sled all the way to the bottom. Our neighbors are so kind to us and they loaned us several toboggans and sleds.

We really don’t have to get out if we don’t want to. The bakery is right across the street and the market is right next to that. The Lindsenbreit Hoffladen is next door and we can purchase all the eggs, wurst, and pig meat we need. Getting snowed in isn’t really a fear, perhaps its a nice treat. It’s funny watching the little baby goats in the back yard. Several were born just last month and they sure are frisky in the fresh snow. They jump all over the place and butt heads to play.